Organizational size and social capital in the public sector: does decentralization matter?

Andrews, Rhys ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1904-9819 2017. Organizational size and social capital in the public sector: does decentralization matter? Review of Public Personnel Administration 37 (1) , pp. 40-58. 10.1177/0734371X16643575

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Abstract

Organization theory suggests that the strength of the ties between employees is likely to be weaker in large organizations, but that decentralization of decision-making can help to generate norms of collaboration, trust and shared mission. This paper explores the separate and combined effects of size and decentralization on perceptions of organizational social capital in central government agencies in Europe. The statistical results suggest that there is a negative relationship between organization size and organizational social capital and a contrasting positive relationship between decentralized decision-making and social capital. Further analysis revealed that decentralization of key decisions can overcome the internal social dysfunctions associated with being a big organization. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Organizational social capital; organization size; decentralized decision-making; civil service; quantitative methods.
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	0734-371X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 November 2016
Date of Acceptance:	16 March 2016
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2024 20:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/96298

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